Rifle company retires Old West symbol.

Byline: INSIDE THE OUTDOORS By Mike Stahlberg The Register-Guard

Short shots from the bullets beat:

My first "real" hunting rifle (not counting the .22 used to hunt jackrabbits) was a hand-me-down .30-.30 version of the ubiquitous Winchester Model 94.

Thus, I'm among those who felt a little twinge of sadness upon hearing last week's announcement that the U.S. Repeating Arms Co. - maker of Winchester rifles and shotguns under license from the Olin Corp., which still owns Winchester ammunition - is closing its U.S. plant.

Some Winchesters will continue to be made overseas, but the classic lever-action rifle of Western fame and two other traditional Winchester models will no longer be manufactured.

The Winchester Repeating Rifle, otherwise known as "the gun that won the West," became a U.S. cultural icon for several generations of Americans - even those who didn't hunt or shoot.

Anyone who watched motion pictures in the mid-20th century can call up images of John Wayne, Chuck "The Rifleman" Conners, Steve McQueen and other stars whose characters were known for their proficiency with a lever-action Winchester. Jimmy Stewart even starred in a movie named after the rifle (`Winchester '73').

By the time I got my Winchester, there were many more effective hunting rifles on the market. As far as I was concerned, however, the words of Theodore Roosevelt aptly described my rifle:

"The Winchester is the best gun for any game to be found in the United States," Roosevelt wrote prior to becoming U.S. president, "for it is as deadly, accurate and handy as any, stands very rough usage, and is unapproachable for the rapidity of its fire and the facility with which it is loaded."

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking hunters' feedback regarding the state's duck hunting zone/season structure.

Currently, Oregon is divided into two zones, and season dates can be set independently for each zone. (See page 15 of the 2005-06 Game Bird Hunting Regulations for map outlining the present zones 1 and 2.)

Once every five years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows states in the Pacific Flyway to propose changes in their zone boundaries or types of zone configurations.

A state's zone/season date configuration must conform to one of the following options:

A. Three zones with no split seasons allowed;

B. Split seasons (no more than three segments) statewide with no zones; or

C. Two zones, with the option for a single split season in one or both zones.

Oregon has used Option C for the previous 10 years.

`Hunters generally have supported the current zone option and current boundaries, so ODFW biologists are planning to make a recommendation for no change at this time if we do not hear otherwise from the hunting community,' said Bradley Bales, ODFW waterfowl biologist. `We would like to hear from interested hunters before a final recommendation is made.'

The deadline for comments is Feb. 20. Any changes approved would be implemented for this fall's waterfowl seasons. Comments or questions should be addressed to Bales at ODFW, 3406 Cherry Ave. N.E., Salem, OR 97303 or via e-mail at: [e-mail].

Speaking of ducks, 12-year-old Marshall Balderston of Eugene bagged his first mallard drake earlier this month on a hunt guided by Jim Hulbert, national president of Ducks Unlimited.

Balderston, a seventh-grader who only recently earned his hunter safety education card, earned the hunt at the Ducks & Dogs hunting preserve near Monmouth by winning his age group in the 2006 "Project Write On" essay contest.

In the statewide contest, DU youth members submit essays on how they play a role in conservation stewardship and the traditions of waterfowling.

Marshall is the son of Keith and Stephanie Balderston.

The second Oregon winner this year was 15-year-old Steve Lederbrand of Hillsboro.

Mike Stahlberg can be reached at [e-mail].